Kill Switches: Cell Phone Security

(KCRA) California Governor Jerry Brown signed the nation’s first-of-its-kind smartphone legislation Monday that will require a “kill switch” on all smartphones sold in his state.

The technology will allow smartphones to be disabled when they’re stolen.

The bill by Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, passed the state Assembly 51-18 earlier this month.

“Two out of three robberies in San Francisco involve a cell phone — three out of four in Oakland,” Leno said. “We want to get into the head of the perpetrator that it is not worth his time, trouble or risk because the item he is thinking of stealing would be worthless.”